Soft-Rock infomercial, or Late Night Wardrobe Goldmine? - A Small Musical Aside

Authored by Ty Clancey on May 4, 2007 - 9:43am.
I arrived home late last night with a double-double animal style and switched on the TV to find Graham Russell (squared)  Hitchcock of Air Supply sipping from a pitcher of lemonade and telling me to listen in on the newest, priceless selection from Time-Warner Music - Soft Rock Hits of the 70s.

 

Okay, so as a satirical filmmaker the first thing that came to mind was how easily I could turn this over-ambitious infomercial into a comedy sketch. But I bit into my burger.  And my foot started tapping.  Go ahead, listen to Elvin Bishop's "Fooled Around and Fell In Love" to get yourself in my mind.

 

I mistook the first euphoric feelings for the deliciousness of my In&Out burger, but my attention soon turned to the screen where some of the first attempts at music videos from the seventies and early eighties were shown.  These were the videos that preceded MTV in '81 - they weren't elaborate stories depicting a plot or theme from the song, they were just cut and dry live performances showing the musicians getting down in fantastically cheesy outfits beneath gawkish lighting. 

 

 

Todd Rundgren As bad as Todd Rundgren looks belting out to the crowd in fruit roll-up chaps during "Hello It's Me", you have to give it up to how much fun they're having.  It's like watching a decade-long Ultimate Weirdo Contest.  Watch ‘em pounce around the stage or hold onto the mic as they lose themselves in their musical (or drug induced) ecstasy.  

 

Yes, indeed it seems like most of them had to have been under the influence to exude so much essence while looking that ridiculous. 

Rupert Holmes God, what would I give to travel back in time to capture this absurdity.  Rupert Holmes would arrive onto the set of the shoot in white pants, red sweater and wafted hair and I'd say, "Perfect, Rupert. Now ask me, genuinely, if I like Pina Coladas and getting caught in the rain."   Damn, being a video director back then must have been great.   

 

I even found the sample from one of my favorite hip-hop tracks "Come Again" by DJ Drez in the song "Baby Come Back", by Player - quite possibly the first band to ever feature a bassist wearing Ugg boots.

Ugg Rock  

And then they cut to interviews with satisfied customers.  People with names like Vickory Hexter and Gary Dean Hadlock.  My soft rock buzz was blown.  Come on, I don't want to know how much these stiff, pastel couples like it...I want to continue hating how much I like it.

 
I went back to finishing my burger and realized that I didn't need to buy this 26-Disc CD set.  I could just Tivo this sucker and play it while I'm in the shower.  Belting out Meatloaf while wondering what it is he really wouldn't do if he would "Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)".



Comments

This is great. I'm watching

This is great. I'm watching this infomercial right now, and actually googled some of the names of the "buyers" These people are so fake, it's amazing. I only wish I had my own In n Out burger to eat right about now... at any rate, you made one insomniac laugh, a lot. So... thanks.

Guilty Hypnotic Pleasure

Sadly, whenever this comes on, I stop what I'm doing & I wail every song at the top of my lungs. What's wrong with me? I'm not sure, but I'm glad you're bringing attention to my oddball musical addiction. I've also Googled names of the collection's "fans" & found that a few were actors - big shock! ; )

Nicely done! I just googled

Nicely done! I just googled myself and found this rant. I especially loved the bit about Rundgren's Fruit Rollup Chaps. I could barley get through the sentece, I was laughing so hard. Keep the smooth. Hadlock

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